Humidifier



Oct. 6, 1953 sc F 2,654,362

HUMIDIFIER Filed April 5, 1950 k'ml I N V EN TOR. 4e THUP Samqer zrawzwATTOK/VE) away to show the relationship of the valve, the float, thevalve-float leverage, and the inlet end of the pipe connecting the floatchamber with the evaporating pan, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2, ofthe valve shown in elevation in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the present construction, the valve is designed to require a minimumof operating force for seating of the valve body, and the valveoperating means is designed to provide more than adequate force forclosing the valve even if some minerals are deposited on such operatingmeans and on the valve. made a size suflicient only to provide adequateclearance for the valve, the float, and the valve float connectingleverage, and to maintain such parts submerged in water at all times.The pipe connecting the valve-float chamber and the evaporating pan isso curved and so joined with the evaporating pan as to minimize thetransfer of heat between the chamber and the pan, as to avoid reverseflow of water through such pipe and as to avoid collection in such pipeof precipitates or slimes forming in the pan. All of the above featurescooperate in minimizing the temperature of the water in the valve-floatchamber which minimizes the degree of precipitation therein, and theeffect of such precipitates as are deposited is reduced by providingrelatively powerful force multiplying operating means which are readilyadjustable to compensate for the varying weights of such precipitates onthe valve operating means. Condensation of such evaporation as does takeplace in the valve-float chamber is prevented by providing a continuousflow of air through the chamber, the airentering at opposite points ofthe chamber above the water level by a number of relatively small holesand discharging through a relatively large louvre-like opening axiallyand centrally in the cover.

' Referring particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 5designates a tank made of corrosion resisting material which is readilyshaped to obtain rounded corners and is provided with a cover 6 fittingrelatively tightly on the tank. The tank 5 has relatively small holes 5asubstantially centrally in the portions of the tank ends above the waterlevel therein, and thecover 5' has a relatively large slot-like openingBa' axially and centrally of the cover with the cover struck upwardly toform a louvre-like opening. A continuous flow of air is obtained throughthe chamber which removes water vapor from above the water level thereinand tends'to keep all portions of the tank and its cover at ambienttemperature. Tank 5 is shown equal in height to the edge of theevaporating pan but is, preferably of a height suflicient only formovement of the valve and its operating means if the water level in theevaporating pan is kept below the then level of the upper edge of thetank.

A valve casing generally designated 1 has a portion 8 extending throughan aperture in the bottom of the valve-float chamber 5, 6, and threadedto receive a nut 9 for clamping the easing on gaskets l0 and I I' aboutthe chamber aperture within and outside of the chamber respectively. Awasher I2 is interposed between gasket H and nut 9 so that adequatepressure may be applied to the gaskets for sealing the aperture. Thevalve casing has an inflow passage l6 ending in a boss 11 within acentral bore l8 in the casing and has several discharge passages 19relatively The valve-float chamber is i closely adjacent the bottom ofthe chamber 5, 6 and discharging to different sides of the valve.

A valve 22 is formed as a plug fitting into the casing bore [8 in freelyslidable relation (to be readily lifted at water pressures as low as 40pounds per sq. in.) and is preferably of a known type having a resilientinsert 23 in one end of the plug to seat tightly on the boss [1 upon theexertion of a relatively low pressure on the valve. The other end of thevalve is formeda's a stem 24 of relatively small size with a plane endto extend slightly above the valve casing when the valve is seated. Suchvalves could not heretofore be successfully used in humidifiers becausethe temperature of the valve was so high as to cause deterioration ofthe insert. In the present construction, however, the valve temperatureis 78 F. at an evaporating pan temperature of F. and 83-88 F. at a pantemperature of 212 F. Even natural rubber will not deteriorate at suchlow temperatures and the various known elas tomers last indefinitely.

A lever 26 has ears 2? at one end thereof to receive a pin 28 passingthrough the valve casing 1 and is formed with a rounded boss 29engageable with the plane end of the valve stem, the other end 30 ofsuch lever extending a considerable distance beyond the valve casing.An-

other lever 34 has ears 35 intermediate the lever ends and such earslikewise receive a pin One ceive a rod 42 on which is fixed a float 43.A.

leverage is thus provided which considerablymultiplies the forceobtainable from the float, so that a small float may be used forobtaining a large closing force on the valve.

The plug valve requires a minimum of force for proper seating and suchforce is applied along the axis of the valve where it is most effective.The lengths of the several levers are so calculated and the lever-s areso related asto multiply the float action much more than is necessaryfor proper seating of the valve. Hence, even if some mineralsprecipitate from some of the hard waters encountered, there will beadequate force to seat the valve particularly when the insert is a softelastomer. It will be noted that the valve and. its leverage aresubmerged in water thus minimizing the precipitation of minerals and thedepositing of slimes on the valve and its leverage. Further, thedischarge passages from the valve are preferably so placed as to providejets directed toward the walls of the tank 5 to promote turbulence aboutthe valve and its leverage which keeps the Valve and contacting leverageparts clear and keeps the valve at an even lower temperature than theremainder of the chamber 5, 6.

A pipe connects the chamber 5, 6 with an evaporating pan 41 to besubstantially completely inserted in the plenum chamber of a spaceheater. The connection is made in such manner as to minimize heattransfer from the evaporating pan or its relatively hot water content,to the chamber by heat insulating the pipe from the pan, by preventingback flow of water from the pan to the chamber and by keeping at least apart of the end of the pipe in the evaporating pan substantiallysurrounded by a body of cool Water flowing into the pan from thechamber. Oneend48 of such pipe extends into the chamher: ,3 6 and; is:-:bent, downwa'rdiy; into; 511115133111? tially the plane of the coolerwater enteringz zthex chamber; through. the: valve discharge passagesl9, and the other end 49 of the pipe extends into.. the... evaporating;pam 41-. only sufficiently. to provide for fastening of the pipe to thepan. The pipe thu5-has-arising'gradientover a large portioniof its totallength wh-ich prevents: flowot water from, the pan to: thee.chamberraindfiithe end: 49 s of the pipe is atleast :part surrounde ed;by a; body of, cool. water: discharged: from the? pipe to; sink slowly.toward" the bottom-of the! pan. Iti will ,be, noted that. pipe 48;, 49."em; tersz theiwalil aof evaporating; pan 4'! intermedi ate=theabottom ofthe pamandthe water. level therein and that the pipe end is vertical.Hence no precipitates in the pan can fall into the pipe and it isextremely unlikely that slimes on the water surface in the pan willenter the pipe. Even if the pipe should. receive precipitates or slime,flow through the pipe is only from the chamber to the pan and will flushsuch materials into the pan.

The aperture in the pan wall and through which the pipe 48, 49 extendsis larger than the outer diameter of the pipe. Heat insulating gaskets52 are fitted on the pipe and are pressed on the wall of the evaporatingpan by washers 53 and nuts 54 and 55 threaded on the pipe, in

such manner as to hold the pipe in spaced res lation with the edge ofthe aperture in the evaporating pan wall and thus avoids transfer ofheat from such wall to the pipe. The pipe end 49 and nut 55 aresurrounded at least in part by a body of cooler water discharging fromthe pipe so that heat transfer from the water in the pan to the end -49of the pipe by way of the nut 55, is minimized.

It will thus be seen that various means are employed for minimizing theflow of heat from the evaporator pan and its contents to the valvechamber and of reducing the probability of mineral precipitation in suchchamber therein. There can be no flow of water from the evaporating panto the valve chamber. The condensation of moisture in the valve chamberis prevented by a flow of air which tends to keep the valve chamber andits contents at ambient atmospheric temperature. The valve and itsoperating means are cooled and always submerged which further minimizesprecipitation of minerals thereon. And finally the valve is such as torequire only a minimum force for seating but the force obtainable fromthe operating means is more than adequate for valve seating even if somemineral precipitation occurs on such operating means, and is adjustable.

The present construction provides a number of ways of keeping thefloat-valve chamber cool to minimize evaporation and the possibility ofprecipitation of minerals therein by avoiding metal to metal contactbetween such chamber and the evaporating pan, by curving the pipebetween the chamber and the pan to maintain a constant chamber to panfiow which also prevents minerals and slimes depositing in such pipe,and by making the chamber as small as possible for maximum coolingeifect of the fresh water admitted to the chamber. The minimum size ofthe chamber is obtained by employing a number of levers for theiradditive effect to utilize the smallest possible float and so arrangingthe levers that they are in overlying relation. The leverage is madeadjustabl for exact maintenance of valve sensitivity to water levelchanges valve. surfaces aexposeditorwaterrirr the'rchambers.

and :both .th'e contactingsportionscof.theaaleveragec andbfzthe.valvezareskept submergediat.salhtimess.

Although but; one entb odhnentsofstlie; presents inventionihas been:illustrated: ands. described? J will-be apparent: tow those skillede inthe:

various :changesaan d= imodifidationssmay-rbe made: therein withoi-itideparting: from. :the .spiriisof: the;- invention; or from. thee. scope.of a the: amende'dc;

claims...

1. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type,a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporationof water therefrom, the pan having an aperture in the side wall thereofbetween the bottom of the pan and the minimum water level to bemaintained in the pan, a chamber outside of the furnace casing forreceiving water from a source of supply, a pipe connected with the panand the chamber for conducting water from the chamber to the pan, oneend of the pipe extending through the pan aperture and the other end ofthe pipe extending through the side wall of and into the chamber toadjacent the bottom thereof and below the said one end of the pipe,means for securing the pipe to the pan in watertight relation therewith,a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of water thereinto, andadjustable means responsive to the water level in the chamber forcontrolling the operation of the valve.

2. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type,a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporationof water therefrom, the pan having an aperture in the side wall thereofbetween the bottom of the pan and the minimum water level to bemaintained in the pan, a chamber outside of the furnace casing forreceiving water from a source of supply, a pipe extending through thepan aperture and through the chamber side wall for conducting water fromthe chamber to the pan, the one end of the pipe extending through thepan aperture being substantially perpendicular with the water level inthe pan, the other end of the pipe extending below the said one end ofthe pipe, means for securing the pipe to the pan in water-tight relationtherewith, a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of waterthereinto, and adjustable means responsive to the water level in thechamber for controlling the operation of the valve.

3. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type,a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporatingwater therefrom, a chamber outside of the furnace casing for receivingwater from a source of supply, a pipe connecting the pan and the chamberfor conducting water from the chamber to the pan, a valve in the chamberfor controlling the flow of water thereinto, the valve being adjacentone end of and on the longitudinal axis of the chamber, the valvedischarging the water flowing therethrough adjacent the chamber sidewall, and adjustable means responsive to the water level in the chamberfor controlling the operation of the valve.

4. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type,a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporatingwater therefrom, a chamber outside of the furnace casing for receivingwater from a source of supply, a pipe connecting the pan and the chamberfor conducting water from the chamber to the pan, a valve in the chamberfor controlling the flow of water thereinto, the valve being adjacentone end of and on the longitudinal axis of the chamber, the valve havinga plurality of water discharge openings adjacent the chamber side walland adjacent to the bottom of the chamber, the pipe extending throughthe pan side wall from below the water level in the pan to adjacent thebottom of the chamber and below the water level in the pan, andadjustable means responsive to the water level in the 15 2,427,359

chamber for controlling the operation of the valve.

ARTHUR E. SCHARF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,208,409 Van Evera Dec. 12, 1916 1,555,565 Fuller Sept. 29,1925 1,557,618 Ritter Oct. 20, 1925 1,641,587 Hilty Sept. 6, 19272,247,707 Jordan July 1, 1941 2,292,407 Skerritt Aug. 11, 1942 KuenholdSept. 16, 1947

